Chris Wynn, a key member of the Gears of War team at Epic, has quit the company to work on BioWare's Mass Effect series.

Wynn will become senior development director on the franchise, whose next installment is currently in the early stages of production.

Welcome.

"Thrilled to announce that I will be joining BioWare as the Sr. Development Director on the next Mass Effect!", Wynn revealed on Twitter last night.

His new position is presumably not as high up as Mass Effect franchise boss Casey Hudson, although Wynn will still have a key role in shaping the series' future.

Wynn previously worked as lead producer on Gears of War 3 and senior producer on Gears of War: Judgment.

His departure follows a number of other high profile exits at Epic - previous Gears senior producer Rod Fergusson left last summer, and was followed out the door by design director Cliff Bleszinski last October. Epic president Mike Capps then retired last December.

Gears of War Judgement was the biggest let down out of all the Gears games. 2-3 maps at launch? Lame.

Made by People Can Fly and it's one game. A company that develops and sells engines that power many titles by other devs are dying because 1 game they didn't even develop wasn't all that? Typical angry/whiny Internet behaviour here? Do you even know the amount of weight Epic Games has on the industry?

This sounds as immature as any other kiddy comment you usually witness on crappy sites. How is one of the biggest players this gen, done?

Because they are not working on Gears of War? I'm sure you might be aware of the fact that they've been around way before Gears was born.

A bit harsh ain't it? Haven't you noticed that the top 3 heads of the company left the company? Bleszinski, Capps and Ferguson. I"m a huge Gears fan, and that to me.. Epic is pretty much done. I know they have made a bunch of games before Gears was made. That said, I don't know much about Epic Game's employee history of who worked on what games, but 2 out of 3 key players there have left the company.

Last I observed, Shepard's story is done. The game might take place in the future or during the first contact war. BioWare wanted the fans to decide which was preferrable (which is a risky move if you ask me if they decide to go with a prequel). I personally would prefer the game to take place in the future after ME3 give the whole game a fresh start and to see where they can take the story. I loved ME3 combat what I didn't like was the removal of RPG elements, the cutscenes that were choppy, and the ending that resulted in our choices being nullified.

Made by People Can Fly and it's one game. A company that develops and sells engines that power many titles by other devs are dying because 1 game they didn't even develop wasn't all that? Typical angry/whiny Internet behaviour here? Do you even know the amount of weight Epic Games has on the industry?

The Unreal Engine is pretty much all they are good for now. Look at the string of two games Epic published that recently flopped...Bulletstorm and Judgment, think they would get the hint and make everything in house...Gears 1-3 are good examples.

I will not buy another Epic game that they don't put out personally. They seem to want to outsource their work..so yes they are done, but they wont go anywhere because they are making money off licensing the Unreal Engine to other companies.

Last I observed, Shepard's story is done. The game might take place in the future or during the first contact war. BioWare wanted the fans to decide which was preferrable (which is a risky move if you ask me if they decide to go with a prequel). I personally would prefer the game to take place in the future after ME3 give the whole game a fresh start and to see where they can take the story. I loved ME3 combat what I didn't like was the removal of RPG elements, the cutscenes that were choppy, and the ending that resulted in our choices being nullified.

ME4 is actually a prequel, Mass Cause. There will be a lot more we will learn about the reapers.

The Unreal Engine is pretty much all they are good for now. Look at the string of two games Epic published that recently flopped...Bulletstorm and Judgment, think they would get the hint and make everything in house...Gears 1-3 are good examples.

I will not buy another Epic game that they don't put out personally. They seem to want to outsource their work..so yes they are done, but they wont go anywhere because they are making money off licensing the Unreal Engine to other companies.

Haven't played Judgement as I sold off my old 360 in the middle of Gears 3 (I'll get back to it eventually) but Bulletstorm was fantastic and is easily one of the best games I've ever played. =)

Last I observed, Shepard's story is done. The game might take place in the future or during the first contact war. BioWare wanted the fans to decide which was preferrable (which is a risky move if you ask me if they decide to go with a prequel). I personally would prefer the game to take place in the future after ME3 give the whole game a fresh start and to see where they can take the story. I loved ME3 combat what I didn't like was the removal of RPG elements, the cutscenes that were choppy, and the ending that resulted in our choices being nullified.

With the endings, too many variables (IMHO) for there to be solid ground for a sequel.

And while something around the First Contact War, or even one of the other wars among the species (who says you gotta play as a human?) might technically be a prequel, I'd think it would be far enough away from the original trilogy to just be a new chapter in the same universe.